EP0048874B1 - Distributor for liquid or pasty material - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Dispensing device for liquid and pasty substances, such as disinfectants and leaning agents, soap and ointments, which comprises substantially a wall attachment (1), a covering hood (20) connected to the wall attachment (1), means for locking the covering hood (20), a dispensing container (2) for the substances to be dispensed which is detachably connected to the wall attachment (1), a pumping and metering device that is connected to the dispensing container (2) and has an inlet valve and a discharge valve (22, 31), a pump channel (30) leading from the pump (29) to the discharge valve (31), means for retaining and opening a supply container (49) for the substances to be dispensed that is inserted into the dispensing container (2), and an actuating lever (19) that has a handle (37) and is mounted on the dispensing container (2) for the substances to be dispensed, characterized by the following features : the dispensing container (2) has at its base (13), inside a U-shaped profile (14), a unit (21) in which there are integrated a pump (29) having an inlet valve (22), the pump channel (30) and the discharge valve (31), the unit (21) is connected to the internal space of the dispensing container (2) directly via the inlet valve (22), via a discharge channel (23) which is the operating position of the dispensing device is covered by a neck projection (50) of the supply container (49), and via a compensating bore (24) eliminating a valve leakage owing to an increase in pressure in the pump channel (30), the U-shaped profile (14) has at its sides (15), in the region of its crosspiece (16), bearing bores (17) for accommodating axle stubs (54) of the actuating lever (19), and the actuating lever (19) extends underneath a cover plate (38) that is connected thereto and seals the whole base region of the dispensing device.

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser for liquid or pasty goods, such as disinfectants and cleaning agents, soap and ointments, which in. essentially from a wall mount, a cover connected to the wall mount, means for locking the cover, an output container for the goods to be dispensed which is releasably connected to the wall mount, a pump and metering device connected to the output container with an inlet and an outlet valve, a from the pump to the outlet valve leading pump channel, means for holding and opening a storage container inserted into the dispensing container for the goods to be dispensed, and an actuating lever mounted on the dispensing container for the dispensing goods with a handle.

Dispensers of the aforementioned type are known as such and are widely used as soap dispensers. The invention is therefore described below using the example of a soap dispenser, without being restricted thereto.

A major problem with conventional soap dispensers is the demand for the greatest possible hygiene: This does not only mean that the soap dispenser as such can be kept clean with the simplest possible means and with little effort, it is also important that the controls, i.e. the handle of the must be touched by the user, is easy to clean. In many cases, if the handle is designed as a more or less vertically hanging lever as described in DE-A-21 41 090, the user must grip this lever from behind and pull it forward to remove soap from the dispenser . Soiling occurs right at the rear of the lever, where it cannot be seen and therefore cannot be removed by most people who have to maintain and clean the container.

It is also important that no soap comes out of the nozzle of the soap dispenser if it has not been operated. Here too, a large number of donors are known. B. from DE-B-2 162 514 - which allow soap to escape due to temperature changes. This soap can be found in the form of drops or small piles on the floor of the public washrooms, where it forms a significant source of danger for anyone who accidentally steps into this soap and so greatly reduces the friction between his shoes and the mostly damp floor covering of the washrooms that slipping is almost always the inevitable consequence. This drop is due to the fact that there is air in the dosing space of the soap dispenser, which expands when heated, so that the liquid soap emerges from the nozzle. Another possibility is an excessively long nozzle path, which is still filled after the soap has been removed, so that the last remaining soap that is still in the nozzle path only drips down when the person using the soap dispenser has long moved his hands under it.

Another reason for the accidental leakage of liquid soap can also be found in the fact that a piston pump is installed in the soap dispenser, e.g. B. as a rotary lobe according to DE-A-2141 090, which is no longer sealed due to wear, d. H. that the soap comes out between the piston and cylinder and falls down.

The object of the present invention is therefore to prevent unwanted leakage of soap at uncontrolled times while at the same time creating a device which can withstand higher hygienic requirements and is easier to clean. In addition, the distance between the dispenser nozzle of the soap dispenser and the actuating device should be designed such that the soap is dispensed onto the palm of the hand and not between the fingers, in order to prevent soap from dripping onto the floor.

This object is achieved by a dispensing device for liquid or pasty goods, such as disinfectants and cleaning agents, soap and ointments, which essentially consist of a wall fastening, a covering hood connected to the wall fastening, means for locking the covering hood, a dispensing container for the goods to be dispensed, which is releasably connected to the wall mount, a pump and metering device connected to the dispensing container with an inlet and an outlet valve, a pump channel leading from the pump to the outlet valve, means for holding and opening a storage container used in the dispensing container for the goods to be dispensed , and an actuating lever mounted on the dispensing container for the goods to be dispensed with a handle, with the characteristic feature that the dispensing container carries a module on its bottom within a U-shaped profile, into which a pump with an inlet valve, the pump channel and the outlet valve are integrated are. The module is connected to the interior of the dispensing container directly via the inlet valve via a relief channel which is covered by a neck of the storage container in the operating state of the dispensing device and via a compensating bore which avoids valve leaks as a result of pressure increase in the pumping channel. The U-shaped profile has bearing bores on its legs in the region of its web for receiving stub axles of the actuating lever. The actuating lever extends below a cover plate connected to it and closing the entire bottom area of the dispensing device.

Most commercial soap dispensers have the space where the pump and dispenser are opening are arranged, open and can be reached from below with dirty fingers. In contrast, the object of the application has the advantage that this space is covered by a cover plate, which is arranged on the actuating lever for the pump, so that the actuating handle extends outward as an integral part under the cover plate. This arrangement enables the use of a stable handle that runs parallel to the bottom of the soap dispenser, that is, parallel to the cover plate, and thus allows the fingers to be gripped around. Since its narrow side is directed towards the rear wall, the mostly dirty front limbs of the fingers come onto the inside of the handle, where the dirt marks can be seen and removed from the front.

Because the large areas extend parallel to the cover plate, they are also more easily accessible to the cleaning column, so they are more likely to be cleaned, especially since the dirt can be seen at first glance. It is also essential in this construction that by gripping the handle with the front phalanges the hand is pushed further under the front phalanges, the hand further under the soap dispenser, so that the palm is located below the outlet valve when the pump actuates the actuating lever becomes. This eliminates the risk of soap getting on the floor between your fingers.

The pump as such is integrated in a module which is connected to the interior of the container via an inlet valve and a compensating bore. This compensating hole ensures that when the temperature rises and thus the expansion of liquid soap in the housing or even any air inside it that expands more when heated, there is no dripping, since the pressure does not increase due to the temperature increase, but instead the soap or any air that may be present will return to the interior of the dispenser through the compensating hole.

The arrangement of a U-shaped profile below the dispensing container on its bottom enables the actuating lever to be supported in this area, i. H. in the leg, the introduction of bearing holes that receive the stub axles of the actuating lever. The overall height of the soap dispenser is thereby reduced, but above all in connection with the cover plate, the possibility is created to carry out the handle essentially as a horizontally arranged plate, which leads to the described easier cleaning possibility.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle is provided with spring-mounted articulated levers which carry stub axles. The articulated levers, which extend perpendicular to the cover plate, are, like the stub axle, an integral part of the handle, i. H. that she. are made as a molded part from one and the same plastic. By separating it from the cover plate, it can also serve as a stop against the web of the U-shaped profile or the wall fastening and hold the cover plate essentially in a horizontal position. Nevertheless, it is possible for the articulated levers to be pressed resiliently inward due to the free space arranged between the cover plate and the articulated lever in order to insert the stub axles which project outward into the bearing bores of the legs. Here, too, there is not only a simpler construction, which in turn leads to inexpensive production, in particular additionally due to the omission of axes, screws and other fastening means. It also has a smooth surface that is much easier to clean and therefore more hygienic.

An expedient embodiment provides that the handle is connected to the cover plate via spacers. This embodiment is chosen in particular when the soap dispenser is arranged in rooms where special hygiene is required, for example in operating rooms or the sterile rooms assigned to them. The operator must not touch the non-sterile handle of the dispenser with his hands, which must remain or have to become sterile - instead of soap, a disinfectant can be removed from the dispenser. Due to the arrangement of spacers between the handle and cover plate, the handle protrudes far beyond the dimensions of the dispenser, that is, in the direction of the operator, so that it should be actuated with the arm, ie. H. that one-hand operation also takes place in this case.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention indicates that the cover plate is provided with a stop screw. This stop screw is located in the front area of the cover plate and is expediently designed as a grub screw so that it does not protrude downward into the handle area. The arrangement in the front area of the cover plate ensures that the membrane is unloaded in the idle state. By further unscrewing or screwing in this grub screw, the path of the actuating lever can be regulated, which automatically results in a change in the stroke of the pump and thus a change in the amount of liquid soap to be dispensed that the grub screw is attached to the housing in which the pump is integrated, strikes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump is a diaphragm pump, which is connected to the outlet valve and the relief channel via a pump channel. The cover plate is expediently provided with a pressure cushion. The pump diaphragm is advantageously designed as a cup diaphragm with a reinforced center, so that it is practically not subject to wear. This ver Wear reduction is further supported by the pressure pad on the cover plate that presses on the pump membrane. The pressure pad expediently has a curved surface, for. B. in the form of a cylinder with rounded edges of the end face, whereby due to the shape of the pressure pad no sharp-edged deformation of the pump diaphragm takes place and thereby also reduces wear and thus increases the life of the unit.

The connection of the pump to the relief channel is of particular importance. The relief channel extends from the pump into the interior of the dispensing container and ends here with at least one opening which is covered by the storage container. In order to avoid that the dispensing goods are mixed up, otherwise the dispenser is of the same construction. H. So that, for example, a cleaning agent is confused with a disinfectant, which can lead to extremely serious consequences, the relief channel ends at the cleaning agent dispensing container at a different location than the disinfectant dispensing container. At the same time, the associated storage containers also differ in their design, ie. H. that a storage container that does not contain the correct material can still be inserted into the dispensing container of the dispensing device, but then no longer closes the relief channel. As a result, the liquid is sucked out of the dispensing container during the pumping process, but, since the relief duct is not covered, is conveyed back into the dispensing container via this duct, so that no liquid emerges from the outlet valve. This construction ensures that mix-ups of the liquid to be dispensed are avoided with absolute certainty. Analogously, of course, the same pumping occurs in circles if the dispensing container is not loaded with a storage container, but rather only any liquid is poured into the dispensing container. The risk of accidents, which can easily occur due to the confusion of liquids, is thus largely eliminated in a simple manner.

A very advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the outlet valve consists of a spring-loaded valve body with a conical valve body tip, which engages in a valve cap with a nozzle bore. The valve body tip or the valve cap expediently consists of a rubber-elastic material.

Due to the spring loading of the valve body, it is necessary to build up a pressure in order to overcome the weight of the valve body and the spring load. On the other hand, this ensures that the valve body lies firmly in the valve cap, that is, is sealed, so that no liquid soap can escape from the valve cap or the nozzle bore. The conical valve body tip also allows the cylindrical nozzle bore in the valve cap to be kept fairly short, thus making the space in which soap is still very small after the spring-loaded valve body is closed. By designing the valve body tip from a rubber-elastic material, the space of the nozzle bore in the valve cap is further reduced, since this material is pushed into the nozzle bore. Similarly, a reduction in space occurs when a hard nozzle body tip is pushed into a valve cap made of soft, rubber-elastic material. At the same time, any wear on the conical valve body tip is compensated for by further penetration of the nozzle bore. The risk of dripping of the exhaust valve thus constructed is practically eliminated.

The spring-loaded valve body is provided with a piston according to a further embodiment of the invention. This piston serves as a surface on which the pressurized soap acts during the pumping process in order to raise the valve body against the spring action. During this stroke movement, the valve body moves in the direction of the compensating bore, which it thereby simultaneously closes, so that the soap is not conveyed back into the dispensing container, but is forced to exit through the outlet valve.

• Fig. 1 zeigt den gesamten an einer Wand befestigten Ausgabebehälter im Schnitt.
• Fig. 2 und 3 zeigen als Explosionsschaubild die Einzelteile eines Seifenspenders in perspektivischer Darstellung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt den unteren Bereich des Ausgabebehälters in perspektivischer Darstellung.
• Fig. 5 zeigt als Detail einen Schnitt des Ausgabebehälters gemäß der Linie V-V in F i g. 4.
• F i g. 6 zeigt einen Ausschnitt im Bereich des Abdeckhaubenverschlusses gemäß Bereich VI in Fig. 1 mit eingesetztem Hebel.
• Fig. 7 zeigt des Hebel in perspektivischer Darstellung.

The invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 shows the entire output container attached to a wall in section.
• 2 and 3 show an exploded view of the individual parts of a soap dispenser in a perspective view.
• 4 shows the lower area of the dispensing container in a perspective view.
• FIG. 5 shows a detail of a section of the dispensing container along the line VV in FIG. 4th
• F i g. 6 shows a section in the area of the cover closure according to area VI in FIG. 1 with the lever inserted.
• Fig. 7 shows the lever in perspective.

The wall mounting 1 consists of a flat plate which forms the rear wall 7 and receives bores 8 which are used to screw the wall mounting 1 to a room wall. The holes 8 are countersunk so that countersunk screws can be used. The rear wall 7 is delimited on the right and left by side walls 59 which have a triangular shape and are angled in the lower region. Between the angled ends of the side walls 59 extends a channel-shaped holder 6, which is attached directly to the rear wall 7 and, like the guide 3, the spring 4 and the hook-shaped extension 5, serves to receive or fasten the dispensing container 2.

The guide 3 has the shape of a tab which is offset inwards by the wall thickness of the rear wall 7 and is offset inwards on the rear wall 7 NEN is arranged on the rear wall 7. In its upper area, it is separated from the rear wall 7 by flour and left to ordered free spaces 60, so that the bridge 11, in which the guide groove 10 of the dispensing container 2 ends along its rear wall 9, engages around the guide 3. The spring 4 carries at its upper end a hook-shaped extension 5 and is an integral part of the guide 3. When the dispensing container 2 is inserted, it engages in the holding slot 12 located in the front part of the bridge 11, as a result of which the dispensing container 2 is locked in the wall fastening.

The dispensing container 2 has a U-shaped profile 14 on its base 13. The web 16 of the U-shaped profile 14 extends parallel to the container rear wall 9 and is received by the channel-shaped holder 6 of the wall fastening 1. The legs 15 of the U-shaped profile 14 which are arranged on the right and left of the web 16 have a triangular profile, i. H. they taper from the container rear wall 9 to the container front wall 61 and each have a bearing bore 17 in the downward-pointing tip of the triangle, while an elongated hole 18 extends parallel to the bottom 13.

A module 21 is arranged under the bottom 13 of the dispensing container 2, which partially penetrates the container bottom 13 and projects into the container interior 25. Below the inlet valve 22, the module 21 is designed as a ring approach and here forms the body of the pump 29, i. H. a tubular nozzle which is closed by the pump membrane 56. The pump membrane 56 has a teardrop shape. Its central base piece is reinforced, the edge encompassing the cylindrical part of the pump 29 is connected to the module 21 by a retaining spring ring 55.

A pump channel 30 extends from the pump 29 in the direction of the outlet valve 31. A relief channel 23 is connected to this pump channel 30 and opens into an opening 28 which is located in a mandrel 27 below the knife 26. In the operating state of the soap dispenser, the opening 28 is covered by the neck extension 50 of the storage container 49, so that when the pump 29 is actuated, the liquid soap is not pressed back into the container interior 25, but rather reaches the Austaßventit 31 via the pump channel 30.

The pressure occurring during the pumping process closes the inlet valve 22 and lifts it against the direction of action of the compression spring 62 by pressure on the piston 36 of the valve body 32, as a result of which the valve body seats 33 releases the nozzle bore 35 in the valve flap 34, so that the soap comes out of the nozzle bore 35 can leak. To avoid z. B. due to temperature changes, the pressure in the pump channel 30 increases and the valve leaks, a compensating bore 24 is provided.

The actuation of the pump diaphragm 56 takes place via an actuation lever 19. The actuation lever 19 consists of a handle 37 and a cover plate 38 which closes the entire bottom of the side dispenser and thus prevents contamination of the pump 29 and the outlet valve 31 from the outside. On the cover plate 38, a pressure pad 40 is arranged, which consists of a cylindrical attachment with a flattened spherical neck. This pressure cushion 40 engages with the movement of the handle 37 on the pump membrane 56 and presses it into the module 21, as a result of which the soap located there flows out via the outlet valve 31.

A stop screw 41 arranged in the front area of the cover plate 38 serves to limit the movement of the handle 37 and thus to regulate the depth of penetration of the pressure cushion 40 into the pump membrane 56. This regulation adjusts the amount of soap to be dispensed. The stop screw 41 is usually designed as a grub screw, which is arranged self-locking in the cover plate 38.

The handle 37 is mounted via articulated levers 39, which are resiliently connected to the handle 37. They carry at their ends outwardly directed stub axles 54 which engage in the bearing bores 17 of the U-shaped profile 14.

When using the soap dispenser in disinfected rooms, it is necessary for the operator, for example a surgeon, to work with sterile hands and not to touch the handle 37 of the soap dispenser with his hands. The soap dispenser should be actuated with the arm, for which purpose the actuating lever 19 is extended by spacers 42 so that the spacers 42 connect the handle 37 to the cover plate 38 and the articulated lever 39.

The cover 20 is provided in its lower region with two hinge arms 43, on which there are pivot pins 58. These pivot pins 58 engage in the elongated holes 18 of the U-shaped profile 14 so that the cover 20 can be moved in the direction of the wall mounting 1, so that the nose 46, which delimits the recess 45 in the cover 20, behind the catch 47 of the dispensing container 2 engages.

The recess 44 located in the bottom area of the cover 20 forms an opening for the outlet valve 31 through which the soap exits.

The viewing windows 48 are located in the hood side walls 63 of the cover 20 and are only delimited on one side by the hood side wall 63. The opposite limitation is made by the wall mounting 1, d. H. the side walls 59.

The storage container 49 has a cuboid shape and has on one long side an outwardly projecting neck 50, which is covered with a film cap 51. The reservoir bottom 64 has two opposing depressions 52 which leave a web 53 in the middle. This web 53 is used to insert the reservoir 49 into the dispenser 2, the recesses 52 allowing the Web 53 can be gripped with the fingers.

The soap dispenser is opened by means of a lever 57, which consists of a flat material bent at one end in a safe shape. The crescent-shaped piece of the lever 57 is inserted into the recess 45 with the soap dispenser attached to the wall and the lever 57 is then moved upwards. The lever 57 is supported on the wall of the room and lifts the nose 46 of the cover 20 out of the catch 47 of the dispensing container 2, so that the cover 20 is guided in the slot 18 through the pivot pin 58, moved towards the operator and to release the Output container 2 can be folded down.

Claims (9)

1. Dispensing device for liquid and pasty substances, such as disinfectants and leaning agents, soap and ointments, which comprises substantially a wall attachment (1), a covering hood (20) connected to the wall attachment (1), means for locking the covering hood (20), a dispensing container (2) for the substances to be dispensed which is detachably connected to the wall attachment (1), a pumping and metering device that is connected to the dispensing container (2) and has an inlet valve and a discharge valve (22, 31), a pump channel (30) leading from the pump (29) to the discharge valve (31), means for retaining and opening a supply container (49) for the substances to be dispensed that is inserted into the dispensing container (2), and an actuating lever (19) that has a handle (37) and is mounted on the dispensing container (2) for the substances to be dispensed, characterized by the following features:

the dispensing container (2) has at its base (13), inside a U-shaped profile (14), a unit (21) in which there are integrated a pump (29) having an inlet valve (22), the pump channel (30) and the discharge valve (31), the unit (21) is connected to the internal space of the dispensing container (2) directly via the inlet valve (22), via a discharge channel (23) which is the operating position of the dispensing device is covered by a neck projection (50) of the supply container (49), and via a compensating bore (24) eliminating a valve leakage owing to an increase in pressure in the pump channel (30), the U-shaped profile (14) has at its sides (15), in the region of its crosspiece (16), bearing bores (17) for accommodating axle stubs (54) of the actuating lever (19), and the actuating lever (19) extends underneath a cover plate (38) that is connected thereto and seals the whole base region of the dispensing device.

2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (37) is provided with articulated levers (39) that are arranged resiliently and have axle stubs (54).

3. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the handle (37) is connected to the cover plate (38) via distance pieces (42).

4. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover plate (38) is provided with a stop screw (41).

5. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover plate (38) is provided with a pressure cushion (40).

6. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pump (29) is a diaphragm pump which is connected to the discharge valve (31) and the discharge channel (23) via a pump channel (30).

7. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the discharge valve (31) comprises a spring-loaded valve member ((32) having a conical valve member tip (33) which engages in a valve cap (34) having a nozzle bore (35).

8. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve member tip (33) or the valve cap (34) comprises a rubber material.

9. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the valve member has a piston (36).

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